Improvement in trunks and valises



T. HANNA.

TRUNK AND VALISE.

Patented April 4, 1876.

I IJV'VEATOR Tam baon Jfammay, I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMPSON HANNA, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

IMPROVEMENT lN TRUNKS AND VALISES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 175.557, dated April 4, 1876 application filed A December 15, 1875.

or valise. This end I attain by constructing these articles of what is well known in the trade as vulcanized fiber, the-process of manufacture of which is described in United States Letters Patent No. 113,454, dated April 4, 1871, and N 0. 114,880, dated May 16, 1871,

and need not be repeated here.

The articles may be molded by the applica-' tion of pressure upon the material when in a moist state; but I prefer to make them in the following manner: I take a mold forming the counterpart of the bottom or top of the trunk, and cover it with a sheet of fiber cut at the corners to permit its being folded up, An en-' velope or outer mold, of a shape corresponding to the inner one, is then applied upon the material, which is compressed into the shapedesired by suitable well-known means, one or both of .the molds being first heated, to cause the material readily to assume the shape desired. The corners are then sewed to ether, in the usual way of making leather trunks.

The material possesses stiff and unyielding qualities, which enable me to dispen e with any framing, or a comparatively slight frame will be found sufficient even for large trunks. The material is not injuriously afi'ected by moisture or by heat, and admits of being handsomely embossed or ornamented in the process of manufacture, and of straps, locks, and hinges being attached, as with trunks made of other materials.

Owing to the hardness of the material em ployed it is not defaced by wear or rough usage; and, unlike leather, it is not stained by Water, should the trunk be exposed to rain neither is it discolored by age, nor is its appearance marred by the wrinkles or irregularities so common in trunks made of the usual materials.

The accompanying drawing shows a trunk constructed in accordance with my invention, which will readily be understood without further description. Y

1 claim as my invention and desire to Sc cure by Letters Patent A trunk or valise, made from vulcanized fiber, the same constituting, a new article of man ufa-cture.

- In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

THOMPSON HANNA.

Witnesses v OHARLEs H. DAVIS, T. S. HANNA. 

